King of Prussia News Fall 2022

KING OF PRUSSIA NEWS KING OF PRUSSIA NEWS

Information for the Community Information for the Community

Township Administration Building

175 W. Valley Forge Road King of Prussia, PA 19406

610-265-2600 Fax: 610-265-0482

- Fri 8:15 am to 5 pm

Township Police

175 W. Valley Forge Road King of Prussia, PA 19406

Emergency

This

is an

Do

This

Call for Service: 9-1-1

Phone: 610-265-3232

Line: 484-636-3888

Fire and Ambulance

Emergency Phone: 9-1-1

King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company 170 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Non-Emergency Ph: 610-265-1063 www.kpvfc.com

Swedeland Fire Co. 609 A Street King of Prussia, PA 19406 Non-Emergency Ph: 610-275-0177 www.swedelandfire.org

Upper Merion Area School District

435 Crossfield Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Phone: 610-205-6400 Fax: 610-205-6433 www.umasd.org

Upper Merion Community Cetner

431 West Valley Forge Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Phone: 610-265-1071 www.umtownship.org/departme nts/parks-recreation/ community-center

Courthouse

Swedesburg Volunteer Fire Company 310 Jefferson St. Bridgeport, PA 19405 Non-Emergency Ph: 610-272-9853 www.swedesburgfire.com

Upper Merion Senior Service Center

431 W. VALLEY FORGE ROAD (in the Community Center Bldg.) Phone: 610-265-4715 www.umssc.o

Public

Codes....610-265-2608

Published by Franklin Maps

333 South Henderson Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 610-265-6277

David

ELECTION DAY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2022

You know the saying, “All politics are local.” It's true. Nothing affects you more directly than decisions that are made by your Township Supervisors, County Commissioners, or State Legislature. We all feel the impact of what ordinances or laws are passed by these governmental entities. You can have a say in who represents you on these bodies. If you are 18 or over, you can vote. You can register as an Independent, Republican, or Democrat. You choose the one that best fits you.

Registration

To vote in Pennsylvania, you must first register to vote at least 15 days before the election. You can register to vote online, by mail, or at a number of government agencies, including Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Photo License and Driver's License Centers. To register to vote in Pennsylvania, you must:

Be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

Decide How You'll Cast Your Ballot

IN PERSON — at your polling place

By MAIL IN BALLOT (no excuse)

Deadline to request: October 26th Deadline to submit application: November 1st

By ABSENTEE BALLOT (with excuse)

Deadline to request: October 26th

Deadline to submit application: November 1st

thTuesday, November 8

the General Election.

Make sure you have a plan. Everything you need to know is linked to the League of Women Voters non-partisan website, Vote 411.

Plan Where You'll Cast Your Ballot

Find your polling place for in-person Use U.S. Mail for mail-in or Use a drop box in your County for Your Ballot Only!

Be a resident of Pennsylvania and the election district in which you want to register and vote for at least 30 days before the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

Be at least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

September 11th Memorial Trail

thThe September 11 National Memorial Trail is a 1,300-mile multiuse trail connecting the Flight 93 memorial, the Pentagon and New York City's Ground Zero.

The route includes Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Its creation was spearheaded by the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance as a journey of remembrance of the fallen of 9/11 and a tribute to first responders. It can be traveled by foot, bike, motorcycle or car

Check Registration

24

thRegister

Make sure you're on the rolls. Verify your name, address, and party affiliation.

Find out What's on the Ballot

Know what offices, referenda, or constitutional amendments may be listed.

Learn about the Candidates and Issues

Watch or attend LWV forums and hot topic events. Consult reliable sources and do your homework.

Know When You'll Cast your Ballot

thNovember 8

from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for in person stNovember 1 for U.S. Mail th(must be received by 8 p.m. on Nov. 8 ) thNovember 8 at 8 p.m. for drop box

What ifs

You change your mind about how you'll cast your ballot?

You go to the wrong polling place?

You are not on the rolls?

You didn't receive the mail in ballot or you lost it?

You made a mistake on the mail-in ballot?

You need help with voting?

You want to be a poll worker? For these and other questions and exceptions Go to vote.pa.gov

Call the Montgomery County Board of Elections (610) 278-3000

The first leg of the trail runs northwest from the Pentagon Memorial, following the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park to the Great Allegheny Passage at Cumberland, MD. It links to the Flight 93 memorial via a rail right-of-way from Garrett, PA. The second leg extends east from the Flight 93 memorial to New York City's National September 11 Memorial, piggybacking along manyrailtrails and community trails in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The third leg, from New York City to the Pentagon Memorial, follows the East Coast Greenway south through five states. Hundreds of partners — both big and small, public and private — made the vast triangle trail connectivity possible.

For more information and an interactive map, visit https://www.911trail.org.

To learn more or to register online, visit www.vote.pa.gov.

On March 4, 1811, Upper Merion resident Jonathan Roberts, began his tenure as a US Representative from PA’s 2nd Congressional District. He went on to serve in the U.S. Senate from 1814 to 1821. Roberts remained active in politics and supported a variety of local initiatives. He was an advocate for education and donated the funds to build the first Roberts School for the children of local Croton Mill workers. His name lives on in the current Roberts Elementary School.

Jonathan Roberts was instrumental in the Abolitionist Movement and an early advocate for the freedom of slaves. His historic home, which now serves at the offices of the Valley Forge Memorial Gardens, is thought to have been an Underground Railroad site.

Roberts set aside two acres of his land on what was then known as “Red Hill” and established what is now known as the Roberts Family Burial Ground. It was open to not only his own family members, but for any poor people in need of a burial plot regardless of color. Among those people of interred there are Black Revolutionary War hero Edward “Ned” Hector, Civil War soldiers; and victims of the 1918 flu epidemic. It is also to this cemetery that approximately 190 bodies were transferred from the Mt. Zion AME Church graveyard in Norristown in the 1870s.

Senator Jonathan Roberts died in 1854, and along with many other of his family members, is buried in the family burial located at 260 DeKalb Pike, King of Prussia.

Black Revolutionary War hero Edward “Ned” Hector,

Old Roberts Schoolhouse

Senator Jonathan Roberts and the Roberts Family Burial Ground

Can a screening CT for lung cancer save your life?

“Lung cancer kills 160,000 Americans every year and is often only discovered in the later stages, when it is difficult to treat. Early detection, before it spreads to other areas of the body, makes it is easier to treat and can save your life," says Dr. Ibrahim.

Need more information about lowdose CT lung cancer screening?

The experts with the Main Line Health Lung Cancer Program are focused on preventing, diagnosing and treating all stages of lung cancer. Main Line Health offers lung cancer screenings at eight locations in the Philadelphia suburbs. Call 484.565.LUNG (5864) and a nurse navigator will help schedule your screening, including getting a prescription from your primary doctor

Lung cancer claims more lives each year than breast, prostate and colon cancer combined. Unfortunately, it's also a cancer that is rarely detected early.

"By the time people begin to experience the symptoms of lung cancer—a raspy or bloody cough, shortness of breath, recurrent pneumonia and bronchitis, chest pain—it's often when the disease has reached advanced stages. This makes it more difficult to treat,” explains Kareem Ibrahim, MD, thoracic surgeon at Main Line Health.

New low-dose CT lung cancer screening can reduce lung cancer deaths.

Lung cancer screening options were also limited in their ability to detect the disease early—until recently. In 2013, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) approved a new lung cancer screening test: a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan.

Unlike traditional chest X-rays, which are limited in their ability to detect a tumor in its earliest stage, this CT scan can detect lung tumors and abnormalities when they are as small as a grain of rice. It does this by taking dozens of X-ray images of the lungs from several different angles—far more than a traditional chest X-ray.

"A CT scan provides a much more comprehensive view of your lungs than traditional chest X-rays, which only detect tumors when they've grown to be about the size of a small coin,” says Dr. Ibrahim. As a result, lung cancer can be detected earlier and treated sooner. Low-dose CT scans can lower the risk of death from lung cancer by 20 percent in high-risk patients.

Who is considered at high risk for lung cancer?

People who are smokers or who have a history of smoking are at a higher risk for lung cancer than people who have never

smoked. But, even within these groups, some people are at a higher risk for lung cancer than others. This includes people who:

Are between 50 and 80 years old Smoked at least one pack per day for 20 years

If you fall into any of these categories, you may be eligible for a low-dose CT scan. Other factors, like your history of lung cancer and disease, may also make you more eligible to receive this low-dose CT scan. If you are currently a smoker or you have a history of smoking, ask your doctor whether or not this scan might be right for you. There are no recommended limits to how many screenings can be done.

The screening is paid for by many insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. Be sure to check with your own insurance company to determine whether you'll have any out-of-pocket expenses. In most cases, the fees—if any—will be small.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of lung cancer.

While a CT scan remains the most effective way to detect and diagnose lung cancer early, it's still important to recognize symptoms that may be early indicators of lung cancer. These symptoms include:

A new cough or a cough that doesn't go away

Shortness of breath

Coughing up blood

Weight loss

Headache

Bone pain

Chest pain

Symptoms like these should prompt a visit to your doctor—especially if you have a history of smoking or exposure to carcinogens.

Main Line Health Cancer Care provides compassionate care through all stages of cancer treatment, from diagnosis through survivorship, for patients throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond.

To schedule an appointment with a cancer specialist at Main Line Health, call 1.866.CALL.MLH (225.5654) or use the secure online appointment request form at mainlinehealth.org.

Kareem Ibrahim, MD

Thoracic surgeon, Main Line Health

Jay Goldsleger,

Natalie De

Colleen

Barsha Mokton,

Marcela

Larry Schlarb, DMD

Skip Hoerz, DMD

Ama Soleye, DMD

Andrew

DMD

Kristine Rushby,

Bryan Ruda,

Andrew Greenstien,

Canine

OA® is a unique way to treat arthritis in dogs. It's not a daily NSAID pill or chew, and it's not joint surgery. Synovetin OA is just 1 simple, safe, fast, non-surgical injection that gives your dog up to 1 full year of relief. Because Synovetin OA is dosed directly into the elbow joint, right where it hurts, it targets the source of the inflammation and pain that cause your dog to limp.

Synovetin OA is not absorbed into your dog's body like traditional dog arthritis treatments, so you can be confident that it's a safe and effective choice.

procedure can only be performed by licensed veterinarians at veterinary hospitals permitted to use internal radiation therapy. On rare occasions, discomfort in the treated elbow has been seen in dogs that can last up to 72 hours after treatment. Short-term home-care instructions must be

followed after treatment to minimize extended close contact such as cosleeping. To review the full veterinary prescribing information, visit synovetin.com/cpinfo.

hospital in Illinois until she joined MVA in October of 2015.

Dr. Wolf is a small animal diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Her professional interests include minimally-invasive arthroscopic management of joint disease, and a wide array or orthopedic and soft tissue surgery as well as select neuro surgeries.

About Dr. Wolf

Dr Rebecca Wolf, a Colorado native, attended Bryn Mawr College where she double majored in Chemistry and German. She went on to the University of Pennsylvania where she achieved her veterinary degree in 2006. Following her veterinary degree, she completed a small animal rotating internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in New Jersey, and then a surgical internship at Gulf Coast Veterinary Surgery in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Wolf then returned to Garden State Veterinary Specialists for her surgical residency, which she completed in 2011. and was practicing at a specialty

About MVA:

Since 1986, Metropolitan Veterinary Associates (MVA), a privately owned small animal veterinary hospital, has provided the highest quality of veterinary medicine. It's our mission to enhance and improve the lives of our patients through exceptional care. We concentrate on specialty and emergency cases only, allowing us to dedicate high-level care to the following disciplines: anesthesiology, behavioral medicine, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, emergency, internal medicine, interventional radiology, minimally invasive surgery, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, radiology (including CT, MRI, and I131), and surgery.

MAINTENANCE

Fall Car Care Tips: Prepare Your Vehicle for the Changing Seasons

Fall is just around the cornerare you ready to trade your shorts in for a pair of thermals?—Maybe not. But even if you're not prepared for the change in weather, your car should be.

Because seasonal changes affect your vehicle in a multitude of ways, it's important to prepare for the transition from summer to fall. You'll want to keep up on regular vehicle maintenance, while also paying close attention to season-specific car care tasks.

Make sure your vehicle is ready with the following car care tips.

Check the Fluids

Checking your vehicle's fluids is one of the most critical car care routines. The various fluids lubricate, cool, and perform other vital functions that help keep your car running and driving.

Take a few minutes to check the under hood fluids, including the engine oil, coolant, and brake fluid. You'll also want to check the automatic transmission fluid (if your car has a dipstick) and the power steering fluid (if your car has hydraulic power steering).

Warning: Never remove the cooling system cap when the engine is hot. Severe injury may result. Only check the coolant level and condition when the engine is cool. Many vehicles also have assemblies, such as the differential and transfer case, that are located underneath the vehicle. You should check the fluids in these units regularly. If you have the know-how, you can safely raise and support the vehicle, then check the fluids yourself. You can also choose to have a professional do the job for you at any of the 17 CJ's Tire & Automotive Service Centers.

Inspect the Tires

We get it—tires are about as exciting as an afternoon at the DMV. However, that doesn't mean they should be ignored. Tires are super important because they affect the braking ability, handling performance, and overall safety of your vehicle.

Take a few moments to inspect your car's tires to ensure they're in good condition. First, you'll want to check tread depth using a quarter. Insert a quarter into your tread groove with Washington's head first. Take the measurement at three points across the tire: the outer tread, the center tread, and the inner tread. If the tread touches Washington's head, you have at least 4/32 inch of tread remaining. If it doesn't—then it's time to shop for new tires.

You should also check the tire air pressure with a dedicated gauge. When checking the

pressure, ensure that the tires are inflated to the specification listed on the placard inside the door jamb. Do NOT set the pressure to the reading on the tire's sidewall—that's the maximum pressure. If the pressure is too low, use an air compressor (or an air pump at the gas station) to add air. In the case that the pressure is too high, you can let air out of the tire by pressing down on the tip of the valve stem core with a pocket screwdriver.

Don't forget, tires are our business and we'll be happy to check your tires and tire pressure for free anytime, and no appointment is needed.

Make Sure All of the Lights Work

Sadly, the long summer days will soon be coming to an end. Because nighttime comes earlier during the fall, you're more likely to be driving when it's dark out. Before that happens, get a friend to help you make sure all of your car's exterior lights (including the brake lights and reverse lights) are working correctly

A non-functional light usually indicates a burnt-out bulb. While replacing a bulb is usually a simple task, there are instances where the job can be difficult. For example, on some vehicles, the front fascia must be removed to access the headlight bulb.

Bulb replacement instructions can usually be found in your car's owner's manual. By reviewing the instructions, you'll get an idea of whether the job is something you can handle on your own, or you can always have a professional at CJ's change the bulb(s) for you at a nom in al cost.

Check the Wiper Blades

The fall season often brings rain and sometimes even heavy frost. You'll want to make sure your car's wiper blades are in good shape to deal with these conditions.

To check the wiper blades, turn on both the wipers and windshield washers. A good set of blades should produce a streak-free sweep and leave the windshield clear Replace the wiper blades if they do not perform well.

You'll also want to consider the washer fluid. There are winter blends, which are designed to resist freezing, and summer blends for warmer weather. When the temperatures start to drop, you'll want to make sure you have a winter blend in your car's washer fluid reservoir.

Inspect the Brakes

We don't need to remind you of the importance of your car's brakes, do we?

You (or CJ's ASE Certified technicians) should check the brakes a least twice a year to ensure they're in good condition. Right now, before the snow starts to fly, is the perfect time to take a peek.

How do you know when your brake pads are worn out? When there's 4mm of

friction material remaining, most professionals recommend replacing the brake pads (and usually replacing or resurfacing the brake discs). A reading of 3mm or less indicates the brake pads are a safety hazard and should be replaced immediately.

Make Sure the Heater is Working

If you're like most drivers, you didn't turn your car's heater on at all during the summer. But soon, the weather will get cold and you'll be pining for a warm cabin once again.

It's a good idea to test your vehicle's heater before the temperatures start to drop. Automotive heating systems rely on hot engine coolant, so if the heater is blowing cold air, you likely have a problem somewhere within the cooling system. For example, the thermostat may be stuck open, the water pump may be faulty, or the heater core could be clogged.

Take Care of Any Outstanding Maintenance

Is your car due (or overdue) for service according to the owner's manual? Then take care of it now. Lack of maintenance is one of the most common—if not the most common—reasons for mechanical breakdowns.

Address Any Known Problems

Car problems left ignored often snowball into big-time concerns. For example, a leaking radiator hose can lead to a low coolant level, overheating, and catastrophic engine damage.

Ignoring issues can also leave you stranded on a chilly fall morning. Address any known problems now to prevent further headaches.

Light Pollution: Why it's a problem and what we can do about it.

Most of us are familiar with air, water, and land pollution, but did you know that light can also be a pollutant? Since Thomas Edison's patent of the tungsten lightbulb in 1906, artificial electric lighting has transformed our lives. But in the process, we have lost an important part of our human heritage: the night sky. Less than 100 years ago, most everyone could look up and see a spectacular starry night sky. Today 80% of Americans cannot see the Milky Way from their home. Over the last century, the increased or excessive and widespread use of artificial light at night has not only impaired our view of the universe but has adversely affected; the Earth's climate through human energy consumption.

Light pollution is a major contributor to the climate crisis. Large amounts of electricity are needed to generate light, and electricity is often produced by burning fossil fuels. Uncontrolled outdoor lighting wastes energy As much as 50% of outdoor lighting is wasted, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to climate change.

Plants and animals depend on the daily cycle of light and dark to regulate reproduction, nourishment, sleep, and protection from predators. Scientific research has linked light pollution to negative and deadly outcomes for many creatures including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects, and plants. For example, some nocturnal birds use the moon and stars for navigation during their migrations; and they can become disoriented when flying through brightly lit areas. Female sea turtles shy away from areas with bright lights, which interrupts their nesting patterns. Newly hatched turtles are so drawn to lights, so instead of heading to the ocean, they often end up on land instead.

Research suggests that artificial light at night can negatively affect human health as well, increasing risks for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes, and breast cancer. Scientists have also established a link between light pollution and air pollution. Light from our cities can destroy nitrate radicals that form at night that help to cleanse the air

In addition to the negative economic, environmental and health impacts associated with light pollution, we are losing a precious natural resource: our nighttime environment.

Outdoor lighting illuminates the sky, hiding the stars and changing how we experience the night. Despite a century of uncontrolled outdoor lighting, there are ways to combat light pollution that will make a difference right away. The West Chester Green Team is addressing the problem of light pollution by creating a local Dark Sky Initiative.

If you would like to learn more about the West Chester Dark Sky Initiative, please contact Marc Gagné at mgagne@wcupa.edu.

Here are 7 steps you can take to get started for protecting the night.

1.

Become an IDA member at https://darksky.salsalabs.org/ new_member_pmt_form/+in dex.html

2.

Assess the lighting around your residence. Take a few moments to inspect your

3.

property for inefficient, poorly installed, and unnecessary outdoor lighting.

Look for the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) Fixture Seal Of Approval on any outdoor lighting you purchase. IDA maintains a searchable database of lighting products certified to minimize glare, light trespass, and skyglow.

4.

Talk to your friends, family & neighbors—be a powerful dark sky advocate.

5.

Spread the word online—Engage your online community about the issues.

6.

Be part of a global community that is helping scientists measure and study light pollution.

7.

Join IDA's advocate networkhttps://docs.google.com/for ms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5pRfH62M yzn1ucmzE0fsJpPetgLhIiynEzMtBM6iFxNgcQ/viewform

Dark Sky: https://www.darksky.org/ To get involved: https://www.darksky.org/get-involved/

VALLEY FORGE PARK ALLIANCE

We all know that a walk through nature is good for the soul, but the Valley Forge Park Alliance recently teamed up with Daemion Counseling Center and REI to provide people with an even more meaningful experience: walking for mindfulness.

What is mindfulness? It's a practice that brings our awareness to the present moment, helping us to engage more authentically and freely. Over a series of walks last fall and spring, therapists from Daemion Counseling Center taught mindfulness techniques and allowed time for sharing the effects of practice.

“The therapist was open and inspiring,” said one participant. “I loved her and all the people who walked with us.”

Participants practiced the power of being present. While they walked, they paid attention to the experience of the moment

by Sarah Reisert, Advancement Committee Chair

by tuning into their senses. They looked at how the interaction of the material world affected their emotions. The observations from before and after one walk were astounding. Participants went from feeling grey and cloudy to yellow and sunny through the hour of observation, conversation, and exercise. They even noticed an increased awareness throughout the week in their daily activities.

“As a longtime community partner, REI Co-op is proud to support Valley Forge Park Alliance's mindfulness walks,” said Demyan Hryciw, REI Retail Operations Coordinator. “The EPA reports that Americans spend ninety percent of their lives indoors. These walks provide a great opportunity to get outside and tune in to oneself. Thank you, VFPA & Daemion Counseling!”

Interested in trying a mindfulness walk for yourself? Stay tuned: another series will launch in the fall!

Photo by Karen DelRaso

Conserving Water this Fall

What you can do to manage stormwater on you property this season:

Plant trees. Fall is a perfect time for planting trees and shrubs. Be sure to plant species native to PA.

Prune your trees, shrubs and perennials. Fall is the best time to prune trees and other plants in your yard. Pruning allows them to jump-start their growth and utilize more stormwater.

Clear leaves and debris from gutters. After cleaning you gutters, install a rain barrel at the end of your downspout to reduce the amount of stormwater running off of your property.

Keep storm drains near your property clear of trash and debris. Since they flow directly into local waterways, it is important that only water enters storm drains.

Happy Place to De-Stress and Create

Are you sitting at the window with a cup of coffee staring out watching the leaves fall sighing to yourself about feeling anxious and a little out of sorts? Well, a lot of us are feeling that way today. Some of us have figured out ways to help ourselves deal with the daily stresses we have in our lives. It doesn't matter where the stress is coming from, we just know we want it to stop or not be as loud.

Art can help people overcome daily stresses. It's not the art itself that calms the mind it's the process of creating. Such as participating in an activity with color selection for a project or working on the arrangement of shape placement in a design. These actions focus your brain and crowds out the endless chatter. Some people call it flow, or being in the zone. At GNAL we call that being in our happy place.

At Greater Norristown Art League (GNAL), we have classes that will help you get in the zone and be in your happy place. We have classes such as Pastel Painting, Watercolor Basics, or Mosaics (which is just like working a puzzle) to help center ourselves.

Our Pastel instructor, Catherine McIlhenny took art classes at GNAL with her daughter through covid to stay busy and focused. Now she is instructing with us!

Nicole Lee is our Watercolor Basics instructor and has been helping people through art for many years, whether its adults or children. Ms. Lee has said, "the stress relief from wielding a brush with color across a canvas is exhilarating.”

Roxanne Slemmer is a puzzle master guru! She has been instructing GNAL students and enhancing the process of mosaic art since 2018. "There is a physiological switch in the lower lobes of the lungs that takes you from fight or flight into parasympathetic which basically means you relax. This is where an artist will drop into their creative space and artistic ideas will flow into the work.”

Roxanne Slemmer, LMT

Norristown Art League

a local non-profit art education organization, located at 800 West Germantown Pike, East Norriton, PA 19403

check out our website at

our